The cocoa production and marketing in West Africa (specifically Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana) is presented. Tabular information on the structure of the cocoa industries in 8 major cocoa producing countries is provided, including that of Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nigeria. The process of cocoa cultivation and marketing involves the following steps: (1) development from flower to pod over 5 months; (2) harvest of ripe pods; (3) field storage of pods for 0-10 days; (4) pod opening and wet bean removal; (5) fermentation 5-6 days; (6) drying 2-12 days; (7) presentation of cocoa for sale by farmers; (8) storage at collection centre; (9) storage in export store ; (10) marine transport to Europe; (11) storage of cocoa in consuming countries; and (12) conversion into cocoa products.